MAKING MASTERPIECES

Shellharbour's Incubator Artist Residency helps local creatives

Shellharbour City Council is thrilled to celebrate the success of its Incubator Artist Residency Program, which provides emerging artists with the space and time to develop new ideas and grow their creative practice.

This month, local artist Tammie Castles – known for her drawing and sculpture – begins her residency at the Imaginarium.

Caption: Incubator Artist Resident Tammie Castles. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council. 

Tammie’s art is all about the idea of home and place – what it means, its history, and the memories connected to it. Recently, she has started working with ceramics, using her drawing skills to create unique, handmade pieces that can also be used in everyday life.

Throughout her residency, Tammie will not only immerse herself in her work but also engage with the Shellharbour community. Join her on May 3 for a drawing workshop, where you can learn from her creative process and explore your own artistic side.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to dedicate sustained time to my practice, as well as to engage with the beautiful surroundings of Shellharbour Village, its residents, and its visitors,” she said.

The public is invited to visit the Imaginarium between April 7 and May 4 to see Tammie’s work in progress and interact with her as she brings her ideas to life.

Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer said the residency program plays a vital role in fostering creative talent and providing artists with the opportunity to bring their ideas to life.

"The Incubator Artist Residency Program is a fantastic initiative that nurtures creativity and connects artists with the community," Mayor Homer said.

"We are proud to support local artists like Tammie Castles and celebrate the achievements of past residents who have gone on to achieve great success."

One such success story is former resident Izabella Louk, who participated in the program in August 2024. During her residency, Izabella developed a powerful new play, These Youths Be Protesting, which explores environmental activism and sustainability from the perspective of young people. She also hosted free drama workshops for high school students, inviting them to take part in improvisation games, character-building exercises, and script readings.

Izabella’s play, written and directed under her theatre company Blinking Light, has since gained significant recognition and will be showing at KXT on Broadway in Sydney from 4 – 19 April 2025. The play was also named a finalist for the 2024 Martin Lysicrates Prize.

To find out more about events, exhibitions, opportunities and news about arts and culture around Shellharbour, sign up for the Arts & Culture e-newsletter.

For more information please contact:
Jessica Smith – Shellharbour City Council 0467 250 884 mediaenquiries@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au